MOVEMENTS IN IOWA by D. T. Bourdeau

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 19, 1867

MOVEMENTS IN IOWA.

By D. T. Bourdeau

We could not cross Man's Creek, the day I closed my last report, and so did not spend the next Sabbath with the church at Pilot Grove, as we had intended, but returned to Bro. Green's, where we kept the holy Sabbath, and enjoyed ourselves in reviewing our position with him and his family and the company of Sabbath-keepers who were with us, including some who had attended our previous meetings, and were returning home. Among them was Bro. H. Nicola, who had met us at Iowa City with his team and wagon to take us to his place. Without the assistance of Bro. N. it would have been difficult for us to reach Pilot Grove, as the snow we had enjoyed a few days, had left us. We were thankful to meet Bro. N., who had felt a special drawing out to come to our aid. We found him and Bro. and sister Green friends in time of need and emergency; and such friends are, by a common and truthful proverb, accounted as friends indeed, and will, if faithful in walking in the light, reap a rich reward in the world to come for their sacrifices here.

We were also thankful that we had concluded not to go to Palestine, as we learned that a part of the bridge across the Iowa river at Iowa City had been removed by the high water and ice since we had crossed it, leaving Palestine behind us, and showing us a worse dilemma than that in which we were placed, as the Iowa river would have been longer in falling than Man's Creek, and as there was then no means of crossing it.

Sunday, the 17th inst., we succeeded in crossing Man's Creek, and came to Bro. Nicola's at Pilot Grove, where, on account of the uncertainty of the weather and the state of the roads, we remained, resting, exercising with our hands, and writing important letters to churches, until the 20th, when, having had a few inches of snow, and believing that if we reached Knoxville before Sabbath we must go by private conveyance, we decided to go with Bro. George Tomlinson, who was about to leave for that place, and accordingly started on our journey, which would take us three days if we were not detained. Little did we expect to meet another halt similar to the one we had met the week before; for we thought that if the streams north had so abated that they were passable, we certainly should not be hindered by high water on our way to Knoxville.

But here we are hedged in by high water again, by the rise of Skunk river, which they say will be impassable at least until next Sunday or Monday; so that we cannot fill our appointment at Knoxville; neither have we time to return to Pilot Grove; for tomorrow is Sabbath. We have therefore put up with unbelievers, with whom we intend to spend the Sabbath, free, for the first time, from the labors of our calling in the State. May our rest and meditations on that day be sweet and refreshing both to body and mind, and to our spiritual natures, and prepare us for greater usefulness. We suffered much from a sudden change from warm to cold, and from severe winds on our way to this place.

Feb. 26. Last Sunday morning we succeeded in crossing the Skunk river as follows: We approached it, and found it nearly a quarter of a mile wide at the only point we thought it might be possible to cross; though we had been told that we could not pass it. But it had nearly frozen over, and we first went ahead with an ax and a stick to try the ice; and then we gently passed with Mrs. B., following a zigzag course to go where it was frozen over, and where the ice would bear; after this, several boys and young men who were skating volunteered to take our sled across, by going where the ice was strongest; and finally the horses were led singly and carefully, being caused to wade where there was no ice; and thus we all landed safe, feeling thankful for freedom again, and realizing in a measure by anticipation how the last church will appreciate their final deliverance from that awful pressure and bondage of wicked men and demons, which will be brought upon them in their last conflict, before the coming of the Just One.

We reached this place in safety yesterday, and intend to be with the few in Osceola next Sabbath. We feel that this tour south is an important one to the cause in this part of the State. It is the last time we can come into this section before Conference, and we have much to do in raising the work higher. We feel the weight of our responsibilities, and ask to be remembered by the brethren and sisters who have the cause at heart.

D. T. BOURDEAU.

Knoxville, Iowa, Feb. 26, 1867.